State’s Attorney Moves to Close East St. Louis Business Linked to Crime

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (KMOX) — A follow-up to a story KMOX News reported this morning. Following one of the largest raids in the area in years complete with over 100 members of law enforcement in the Metro East, the St. Clair County State’s Attorneys office has filed 57 charges against four suspects and a business in East. St. Louis, Illinois.

State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly has filed asset forfeiture cases against three Crown Food Mart locations on River Park, Collinsville Avenue and State Street and seized over $200-thousand dollars and illegal drugs during a search of the businesses last weekend. Kelly says the charges reflect the criminal activity that was taking place in the stores including unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession with intent to deliver controlled substance, unlawful possession with intent to distribute a look-alike substance, possession with intent to deliver a legend drug which is a violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, permitting the unlawful use of a building, maintaining a public nuisance, and offering for sale a misbranded article, also a violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The liquor licenses have also been suspended. And efforts are underway to close all three as a public nuisance.

Three clubs were also raided, “Club Posh, Club 103 and Club Rolex.” Three were arrested at one of the clubs. This follows over a dozen alleged liquor control violations at the clubs in November.

Kelly stated,

“There is strong reason to believe the continued operation of businesses that profit from and perpetuate illegal and dangerous activities cause substantial harm to the interests of the public in East Saint Louis and surrounding communities. Individual citizens and the public at large must be warned of the dangers of these establishments and urged to steer clear. It is the duty of every public official and private citizen to confront these dangers and take whatever legal action is necessary to prevent more bloodshed in our community.”

A special grand jury has been impaneled that Kelly says will focus on locations linked to patterns of violence and other criminal activities.